The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and Alpha Space Test and Research Alliance, LLC (Alpha Space) are partnering to provide the materials research and technology sectors with an opportunity to access and utilize the Alpha Space Materials International Space Station Flight Facility (MISSE). This Request for Proposals (RFP) will solicit commercial entities, governmental agencies, and academic investigators for flight research projects in the field of materials and technology testing in the extreme environmental conditions of space. Selected project(s) will work with Alpha Space to develop concepts into payloads that will leverage the MISSE platform on the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory. The MISSE Flight Facility is slated to launch to the space station in Spring of 2018.

The MISSE Flight Facility is a commercially-available materials research facility that will reside externally aboard the ISS, offering researchers the ability to test concepts in the extreme environment of space. Applicants will describe using the MISSE Flight Facility (created and managed by Alpha Space) aboard the ISS National Lab for research, development and testing of materials and/or technologies that will lead to Earth-based applications and improve life on our planet.

By leveraging the MISSE Flight Facility externally, researchers can take advantage of temperature variation, atomic oxygen, enhanced radiation exposure, among other factors. Testing on the outside of the space station can have broad impacts to the general academic community, but also multiple industries. Researchers within the fields of (but not limited to) advanced manufacturing, automotive, aeronautics, energy and transportation industries are encouraged to submit flight concepts to utilize this facility.

This solicitation will follow a two-step submission process. All interested investigators must complete a Step 1 Proposal. This proposal will be reviewed for operational feasibility and terrestrial benefit. The deadline for Step 1 Proposals is March 1, 2018 at 5pm EST.

A webinar will be conducted on February 20, 2018 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM EST to discuss the benefits of materials science research in space, the MISSE platform, and possible experimental options. Interested participants in the webinar must pre-register through the following site:https://www.iss-casis.org/research-on-the-iss/solicitations/materials-science-2018/

“The MISSE Flight Facility will provide a broad spectrum of researchers and industry yet another commercially operated platform aboard the ISS on which they can conduct research and test technologies in the extreme environment of space.” said CASIS Director of Operations Ken Shields.

“The team at Alpha Space is excited to partner with CASIS to provide researchers another unique facility to leverage microgravity and radiation,” said Alpha Space Owner and President Stephanie Murphy. “The MISSE will provide the ability to test products and experiments in the extreme environments of space, and through this solicitation, we hope to showcase the breadth of synergistic effects and research possible aboard this new platform.”

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To learn more about the MISSE Flight Facility, visit: https://www.alphaspace.com/about-misse-ff.html

To learn more about the ISS National Laboratory, visit: http://www.spacestationresearch.com/